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Forensics TTA

2026 Forensics TTA Calendar of National and Regional Events

The Forensics TTA calendar of events provides a centralized view of national and large-scale regional conferences, trainings, and other events of interest to BJA Forensics Program grantees. This calendar is a downloadable resource designed to assist grantees with effective planning of event attendance when supported by BJA Forensics Program funding. Event entries are color coded by event type – conferences, trainings, and other (e.g., meetings, convenings). Clicking on a color-coded event entry produces a pop-up box which provides information including its name, date(s), and location along with a direct link to the event’s main page for additional details such as the agenda and registration, travel, and lodging information. Questions about applying or utilizing BJA funding to attend any events presented on this calendar should be directed to your assigned BJA Policy and Programs Office representatives. Explore the calendar today and contact the Forensics TTA team via Forensicstta@rti.org with any questions or suggestions for ensuring this resource best fits your needs! 

September 2026

Dark grey-filled circle with a woman holding a sword and a justice scale inside

Highlights

Florida man sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping a woman in her apartment in 2001

In December 2001, a 21-year-old college student was raped in her Bronx apartment in a violent attack that remained unsolved for more than two decades. In 2023, the investigation reached a breakthrough using Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), funded by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program awarded to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office to support cold case investigations. Using DNA evidence collected from the rape kits, the New York Police Department Forensic Laboratory developed a DNA profile that identified 51-year-old Jancys Santiago from Groveland, Florida as the suspect. In September 2026, Santiago was sentenced to 25 years in prison following New York State’s first indictment and jury conviction achieved through the use of IGG.

September 2026

Purple-filled circle with three standing people icons with the middle person having a question mark

Coconino County Health and Human Services Medical Examiner’s Office, AZ

MUHR funding supports the resolution of a decades old unidentified remains case on the Navajo Nation

After more than 30 years, remains associated with a case on the Navajo Nation have been identified as those of Michelle Marlene Simpson, providing long-awaited answers to her family. With funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, the Coconino County Health and Human Services Medical Examiner’s Office (CCHS MEO) exhumed the remains and submitted the case for Forensic Genetic Genealogy. Navajo Nation Police investigators played a key role by reviewing family tree records, locating relatives of missing persons, and helping obtain historical dental records that ultimately confirmed the identity. The case highlights the impact of collaborative investigative work and strategic grant support in advancing cold case resolutions. As CCHS MEO noted, “The grant was the catalyst” that launched the identification effort, funding critical forensic testing and investigative steps that made this outcome possible.

September 2026

Dark eggplant-filled circle with a medical icon inside

CBS News

Morehouse launches first HBCU forensic pathology fellowship with DeKalb County

The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office, with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Strengthening Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program, has partnered with the Morehouse School of Medicine to launch the nation’s first forensic pathology fellowship program at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). The goal of the program is to recruit qualified board-certified forensic pathologists to address persistent shortages within the field. Currently, the inaugural program has one fellow, Dr. Oluwaseum Ogunbona, who is receiving hands-on training in death investigations and forensic autopsies. To learn more about the Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program at DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office, visit: https://www.msm.edu/Education/internalMedicine/forensic-pathology/index.php

September 2026

BocaPost

PBSO Identifies Woman Whose Remains Were Found Near Boynton Beach in 2023

On May 11, 2023, unidentified human remains were discovered in Palm Beach County, Florida. Through funding provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Identified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, DNA was extracted from the remains, a partial profile was developed, and the profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) Forensic Imaging Unit also developed and publicly released a facial reconstruction; however, neither CODIS nor public outreach generated viable leads. PBSO subsequently submitted the case for Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) analysis using funding from the PBSO Forensic Genetic Testing grant awarded by the State of Florida. This analysis generated investigative leads suggesting 75-year-old Regina Hess as a potential match. MUHR-funded kinship analysis, combined with the FGG findings, confirmed the identification in August 2026.

September 2026

Highlights

Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office Identifies Unknown Murder Victim from 1986

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office recently identified Brenda Darnell McLerran (Smith), who had remained unidentified since she was found murdered in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1986. WIth funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, preserved biological evidence from the case underwent Forensic Genetic Genealogy analysis. The analysis resulted in the identification of a potential brother who provided a DNA reference sample. Subsequent testing conducted by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification confirmed a biological sibling relationship, conclusively establishing her identity nearly 40 years after her death.

August 2026

Highlights

2000 Identification of Ciro Estrada Hernandez

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office (TCMEO) recently identified Ciro Estrada Hernandez, who had remained unidentified since being discovered August 18, 2000. The identification resulted from TCMEO’s routine fingerprint reexamination protocol. Under this protocol, fingerprints from unidentified cases are periodically resubmitted to take advantage of improvements in fingerprint databases and newly uploaded archival records. A resubmission of Mr. Hernandez’s fingerprints generated an association to a record in California, leading to a positive identification and restoring his name more than two decades after his death. This work was supported by funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program.

August 2026

Highlights

1986 Identification of Jose Francisco Reyes

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office (TCMEO) recently identified Jose Francisco Reyes Ortega, who had remained unidentified since his recovery on October 16, 1986. Through collaboration with the Fort Worth Police Department, archived evidence from the original investigation was recovered and transferred to TCMEO for further forensic evaluation. TCMEO fingerprint analysts successfully developed fingerprints and submitted the prints to multiple fingerprint databases, resulting in a positive identification. With support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, Mr. Ortega’s name was restored after nearly four decades.

August 2026

FOX 10 Phoenix

Remains found on remote Alaska island identified as hunter missing since 2009

Human remains discovered on Alaska’s Nunivak Island in 2009 were identified as those of George Smith Sr., a 79-year-old hunter from Togiak, Alaska, who disappeared after a snowmachine accident during a hunting trip. The identification followed a recent initiative by Alaska’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Unit to collect additional family reference samples. Testing of those samples generated the critical data investigators needed to confirm Smith’s identity, providing answers to his family 17 years after his disappearance. The DNA testing that supported the identification was conducted by the Center for Human Identification (CHI) at UNT Health Fort Worth with funding provided over several years through both the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program and the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). The identification demonstrates the powerful role of forensic technology, sustained federal support, and collaborative partnerships in resolving unidentified remains cases.

August 2026

Highlights

After 45 years, Jane Doe Identified as Thelma Gaston

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau has positively identified previously unidentified human remains as Thelma Gaston, resolving a case that began in 1981 when a passerby discovered a shallow grave containing the remains of a severely decomposed female near Sugar Loaf Mountain in Riverside County, California. Despite extensive identification efforts over the years, the victim’s name could not be established.

July 2026

Author: Yujiemi Chisholm